Hey everyone! Today we're making a soft bed runner, and I'll show you how one wide, painterly stripe can dress up a whole bed with no piecing in the main panel.
Here we go.
Meet the fabric
This is the Backings No.5 Pale Cotton Wideback Fabric - 3 yard bundle from Northcott, from the Backings No. 5 collection. It was designed by Anna Maria Parry for Northcott.
The color and style listed for this one is Pale. The collection centers on a flowing, multi-colored stripe pattern, with artistic, painterly textures and plenty of movement.
It's 100% cotton, printed on a high-density base cloth at 145 g/m². It has a silky-smooth hand feel, drapes really nicely, and holds up well for longarm or domestic quilting.
The width is 108 inches, and this one comes as a 3-yard bundle. Three yards at 108" wide is a generous piece, about 108" by 108". The idea behind this collection is simple, folks. The reverse side of a quilt is a second canvas, not an afterthought. In Pale, that idea goes soft and calm. Just like that.
The project: a soft bed runner
We're making a bed runner that finishes at 24" by 90". That's the long, narrow quilted strip across the foot of the bed. It adds color and texture, and it protects the bedding underneath.
At 24" by 90", it fits nicely across a queen bed, which is 60" wide, with about 15" of drop on each side. On a king, at 76" wide, you'll get about 7" of drop per side. Completely up to you.
Why does this fabric suit it? Most runners need piecing to reach 90" long. This one doesn't. That 108" width means you can cut the full 90" length in one piece, with no seam interrupting the stripe. And because the bundle gives you both the top panel and the backing, the stripe shows on both faces. Flip it over, and the bed still looks made. Super duper easy.
Materials
- 1 bundle of Backings No.5 Pale — 3 yards at 108" wide; you'll cut the top panel and backing from this one bundle and still have fabric left over
- Cotton batting, cut about 28" by 94"
- Thread that blends with the pale stripe for quilting
- Rotary cutter, a long ruler, and your biggest mat, plus pins or clips and an iron
- A walking foot if you have one — it helps on a long, narrow piece
Brief steps
One. Decide your stripe direction first. I like the stripe running the long way, across the bed. Lay the bundle out, look at it, then cut your top panel at 24" by 90".
Two. Cut your backing from the same bundle at about 28" by 94", roughly 4" bigger than the top all around. That extra room is your quilting insurance, y'all.
Three. Layer the backing right side down, then the batting, then the top right side up. Smooth from the center out. Pin, clip, or spray baste, whichever you trust most.
Four. Quilt it. My pick is echo quilting that follows the stripe, or long lines about 2" apart. A light meander works too. Use a size 80/12 needle and a 2.5 mm stitch length, about 10 stitches per inch. Go steady on the long runs. Slow down or the needle snaps if you jerk the piece sideways.
Five. Trim the batting and backing even with the top. Cut three binding strips at 2 1/2" wide from your leftover bundle fabric. At 108" long each, three strips cover the 228" around this runner easily. Join them, and bind with a 1/4" seam allowance.
Full honesty. My first bed runner, my quilting lines wandered where the stripe curved. From the doorway, nobody could tell. It doesn't have to be perfect, folks. You're your own worst critic. Take your time. It's not a race. If I can do this, y'all can do it.
Practical tips
Press this wide fabric in sections before you cut. A piece this big holds a fold crease, and five minutes with the iron saves a crooked cut.
Check the stripe direction twice, cut once. Say it out loud. I do, every time.
On a domestic machine, roll the end of the runner instead of bunching it. This cotton drapes well, so let it flow. Don't fight it.
Save the leftover, too. After the top and backing, you'll still have a healthy piece left. Enough for matching pillow shams, or a second runner.
Alrighty. Thanks so much for sewing along with me today. I hope this runner makes your room feel calmer. We'll see you next time. Bye.
Shop the Backings No.5 Pale Cotton Wideback Fabric - 3 yard bundle at Linda's Electric Quilters.
